Sunday, April 25, 2010

Well, I'm going to start today's rant with a subject that's very near and dear to me, books. I love books, I love the feel of them, I love the smell of the paper, especially the old books, I love the print and most of all, I love reading them. Yesterday I saw "Fahrenheit 451." It's a wonderful movie from 1966, directed by the famous director, Francois Truffaut, written by Ray Bradbury. I read the book back when and it made me very nervous, just as Orwell's, "1984," and "Animal Farm," and Huskley's "Brave New World." Yea, I was a super nerd in high school, but a pretty one!! LOL

In "Fahrenheit 451," (in case any of you don't understand the title, that's the temperature paper burns at when ignited. Now I'm not being condescending, I didn't get it either till college, the first time around back in the 70's) it was illegal to own or read books and if you were caught, you were arrested and your books would be burned...very scary! There was a scene that particularly held me bound to my couch; the "firemen" had found this blind woman who owned many book, hidden away in every nook and cranny of her home then they discovered a hidden library...OMG!! As the chief was picking out books, he explained to Montag, played by Oskar Werner, how ludicrous books were, a joke, they introduced too many feelings and ideas dangerous to the masses. Anyway, I won't go into the whole movie, but please read the book or rent the movie, it's well worth it because we're beginning to see such things now.

I refuse to go digital when it comes to books or newspapers, I will not in any way, shape or form, conform to those gadgets to make your reading pleasure easier without the clutter of books...very scary! We are told we need to be young, thin (anorexic), and beautiful with big boobs or pecks and a six pack. I don't know about you, but I've been using Ponds moisturizer for years on my face, my hair is graying at a very fast rate, especially with what I've been dealing with lately but I decided years ago, back in my 40's to go gray but that's my choice and that's what's important to me, that I have a choice and nobody will tell me otherwise.

Now for something completely different (alla Monty Python), my mother bought a ceramic Indian woman last year for her yard. Minihaha, as she named her, (a character from Disney's "Peter Pan.")needed some major work last year, but she was just happy to get such an interesting statue (in Russia maybe) at such a good price..$20. So Ms. Minihaha was displayed with a huge metal rod up her "dress," to avoid her falling over during our big winds we have around here. Well, our West Texas summers can be brutal especially to a $20 ceramic statue that was made in Mexico with crappy clay ( I know my clays) that leached all kinds of stuff during her summer in mom's backyard. Fast forward to March of this year: Mom:Honey, do you think she needs some restoration? Georgina: Yes mom, it's called the dump! Mom: Oh, I don't think she's quite ready for that, but can she have a little face lift or something like that? Georgina:Mom, she needs major restoration and it will cost more than the stupid statue!!, Mom:Well, what does she need? Stupid Georgina: She'll need to be sanded then have several coats of enamel paint in brighter colours than she has now and some detailing then sprayed with industrial type polyurethane that causes cancer, miscarriages, brain tumors, etc. Mom:Oh good, that's right up your alley. I didn't send you to school and get your degree in art to just make funny little dolls. Defeated and Stupid Georgina:Ok, mom, let's hit Walmart...I just love Walmart!!!

So here our some before and after pics of Ms. Minihaha. I will probably continue to restore her every year from now on until she's nothing more than an eroded blob!

I forgot to mention that while I was working on this marvel of crappy terra cotta clay, my CD part of my little studio stereo gave up the ghost. I can't work without music and I sure didn't want to have to listen to our local radio stations...they suck!! But then it occurred to me I still had some cassette tapes in my office closet and the tape section of the stereo still worked. Well, talking about going back memory lane. I forgot I had 2 cassettes of Harry Chapin...oh wow, I love that guy and miss his music...all his story telling songs. Of course there was "Cat in the Cradle," "Taxi," "Circle," that brought tears to my eyes because I sang that song to my older kids when they were babies, "30,000 Lbs. of Bananas," and one of my all time favorites, "Mr. Tanner." Steve Windwood's, "Back in the High Life Again" tape, Basia, George Michael's "Faith," Julia Fordham, Lou Graham, Pat Methany, Rickie Lee Jones, Tuck and Patti and many more old friends. I know I can get these now on CD or download them onto my MP3 player, but I think I'll just hang on to the tapes for a while! Have been enjoying listening to all these wonderful artists that have taken me back to many good memories and some sad. Oh well, that's life.

Also, want to show off some more of my Can-Do series of dolls. They are mixed media pieces made with tuna cans or olive cans. Tell me what ya think and peace out.

21 comments:

Thanks for explaining the title - I didn't know that!! and I agree - I love books.. the older, the better... why on earth did someone think it would be a good idea to go book electronic - crazy.Loving the dolls - especially the lass in the first pic on the right.Great job :O)

Oh boy Georgina! You walked right into that one with the Indian...I'd be tempted to "accidently" knock her over and then maybe replace her with a big dog or cat statue! LOL! BUT that's just ME!I agree partly about the books. For MYSELF I like the feel of a book, I like the turning of the page, the peeking in the back, the homemade book mark,the scribbling a note inside and the propping it on it's side while in bed reading stuff. But on the other hand, if digital books get kids to read instead of video games and texting, well, I'm all for that. I just think we need people to read, so whatever it takes!I love your Can-do's especially the one on the left in the first picture. That wire above his head looks like it's his "thoughts".Anyway, glad that we made it through the blogger problem.Take care my friend and have a relaxing evening! XOXO - Cindi

I watched Fahrenheit 451 yesterday, too ... for about the 10th time LOL. It's really really a good flick - though I still have absolutely no idea whatsoever was behind Julie Christie playing both those parts. It's completely unnecessary and seems to try to make some kind of metaphor which doesn't exist.

You're much better to your mom than mine. I still have fabric from 10 years ago that she wanted me to make a dresser scarf for her. It's ugly fabric. I "lost" it.

Loving the dolls! Especially the devil! - and I have that same fabric that is inside the tuna can! I'm hoarding it because it's out of print and I only have a small piece left LOL.

I love that statue and how it looks now. Great idea. I'm almost tempted to go find a staute and do my own thing on it. Way to go! Yes I gave up on that "Kindle" idea and oouldn't bear the thought of not holding a book in my hand. The smell, the feel of it all. Have a great week.

I love Fahrenheit 451, Georgina! Of course I will be a Ray Bradbury fan for life. I reread his book "Dandelion Wine" from time to time too. I love the story of Minnehaha. The dialogue sounds just like me and my Mom. But...I must say you have her looking pretty darn good. You get her looking too good and someone will steal her (hint, hint). Your new creations look wonderful! Tammy

Fahrenheit 451, ah, one of my favorite movies/books.....hard to watch, easier to read! I will never go digital with books, EVER!!! Love the feel of them and the bookshelves.......As to the indian, you did quite a nice job on bringing her back to life and I don't want to THINK how long that took!I think I am partial to the Devil doll at the moment...I feel like Hell this morning and he seems to evoke my current state! Cuties all!

I have to confess to being *somewhat* sold on the Ebook thing, despite having resisted it and being initially opposed to it. The thing is, I'm somewhat of a book addict, and they pile up WAY too fast. So, yeah, I'm thinking about getting a Nook for my bday...just for those books that I'll never read again. I'll still buy real books from authors I know/like, but.....

Oh my goodness...you have been incredibly busy. I am up for the first time in weeks and I agree .... I love my books...my books that I can hold....and my body is something of a foreign alien at times lately so I will be just happy being here...in the present...I am still here. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

OHGosh there is just so much here I can't remember everything I was going to respond to...oops, just revealed my failing mind, didn't I? I love your little can-do dolls, but do the tuna dolls smell???**kisskiss** Deb

Georgina! I love your posts. Let's see, we started with 451, then went to Indian restoration and ended up with tuna can art. LOL!! You are a treasure. Now I will make you all sorts of mad by saying I will happily read digital books, and I hope to own an iPad to read them, and to draw with, and do all sorts of cool tekkie things with. I love the idea of having 100 books on a device I can stuff in my backpack or purse. I am an author, so I adore books (the kind made from paper), but I don't think books have to be one or the other. Paper books will always be here, but the other kind are cool, too. Are you fuming at me? ;) And I LOVE the Devil. He is so cool! xoxo Pam

Georgina - I came here to confess my sins. I went to Best Buy and looked at the iPad. Oooooooooh. It is very very nice. I want one. But I will still buy and own books, I promise.Just not paperbacks - those I can ebook - lol!! Okay = you have a great weekend, my friend!! xoxox Pam

Awe, you so sweet! Loved the words you left me...I am still pondering them in my heart. I am done pouting. I am stocking up on leggins...something a bit sheer to wear with my orthopedic swimsuit. **blows noninfectious kisses** Deb

HA! St. Jude candles 50% off is surely a sign from God! LoVe it! I just came in from doing yoga by the pool...I was fascinated with how different the garden looks from my view on the mat, and then the battery died on my camera! RUDE. Sometimes we just have to give ourselves permission to accept the gift. You are right at the top of my prayer list, my friend. **happy smiles** Deb

You know the smell of old book fascinates me greatly even the sound of old paper in my hand. And I love libraries. I can spend hours in a library. Pues yo desde aqui te mando saludos y besitos. Keeping my self low and out of sight today relaxing!

About Me

I'm a mixed media artist with a talent for making people laugh or gasp!I have 3 kids, boy, girl, boy and 4 grandchildren, boy, boy, boy and boy along with many step-children and grandchildren. I love my husband galore as well as my family and friends. I love my life and my art and I consider myself to be one very lucky lady. Lately, I've gone into the doll bidness. My dolls are funny, whimsical and some are very dark and macabre, but aren't we all just a little off? As that crazy dude who almost starved to death in his little cabin at Walden's Pond said, "Simplify, simplify, simplify."